The North West Regional Assembly has concluded a landmark three-day training workshop aimed at strengthening the leadership, governance capacity, and cultural stewardship of traditional rulers.
Held from September 10–13, 2025, under the theme “Strengthening Traditional Leadership, Governance and Cultural Heritage”, the event brought together fons, government officials, and technical experts in what participants described as a historic milestone for the region’s peace and development efforts.
Opening the workshop, HRH Fon Yakum Kevin Teuvih Shumitang II, President of the North West House of Chiefs and Paramount Ruler of Bambalang, called the gathering “a defining chapter in the story of our traditional institutions.” He emphasized that traditional rulers remain the bridge between the past and the present, “custodians of heritage, protectors of values, and guides of community life,” even as they face the challenges of globalization, youth disaffection, and socio-political instability.
“This training program is both urgent and necessary,” Fon Yakum said. “It equips our leaders with the knowledge and tools to meet the evolving demands of governance and community service in the 21st century.”
A Government–Traditional Authority Partnership
North West Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique, representing the state, underscored the indispensable role of traditional authorities as auxiliaries of the administration and mediators of peace. He hailed the initiative of the Regional Assembly, describing it as a timely intervention to build capacity among rulers tasked with helping pacify the region after years of crisis.
“You are the bridge between the government and the people,” the governor reminded participants. “You must continue to be apostles of peace, dialogue and reconciliation. Encourage those still in the bushes to drop their guns and embrace the DDR process. And use your influence to ensure our schools remain open and our elections are peaceful.”
Lele Lafrique also stressed the importance of respecting the principle of territoriality, urging traditional rulers to consult their peers before carrying out activities outside their fondoms, a move he said would prevent community conflicts and strengthen mutual respect.
Day One Training: Law, Decentralization, and Culture
The first day of the workshop opened with a powerful session led by Ignatius Ekale, Inspector General at the North West Governor’s Office, who served as the first facilitator. His presentation was a deep dive into the law of 15 July 1977 governing traditional rulers and their functions.
Ekale reminded participants that traditional rulers remain “auxiliaries of the administration,” a term he urged them to understand not as an insult, but as an acknowledgment of their critical bridging role between the state and the population.
Drawing from history, he recounted how, in 1884, certain Douala chiefs ceded authority and territory to the Germans, paving the way for colonial penetration into Cameroon. This, he argued, underscored the enduring centrality of traditional rulers in governance, peacekeeping, and community development.
He meticulously unpacked Articles 19 and 20 of the 1977 decree, emphasizing that chiefs are the representatives of the state in their jurisdictions, custodians of tradition, guarantors of peace, and frontline actors in reconciliation and development.
He warned against partisan entanglements, urging rulers to remain neutral figures “the tree under whose shade everyone, CPDM or SDF, must find refuge.”
Ekale also explored thorny issues such as boundary disputes, succession conflicts, land management, and security threats, calling on chiefs to work closely with the administration to avoid escalation.
He encouraged villages without vigilante groups to form them under the supervision of traditional rulers, noting their integral role in the national defence strategy and the DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) process.
“When the palace is at peace, the village prospers,” he concluded, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
The second presentation was delivered by Pius Mbah-Mbole, North West Regional Delegate of Decentralization and Local Development, who tackled the complex role of traditional authorities within Cameroon’s decentralized governance framework. He described them as pillars standing at the intersection of modern state-building, colonial legacy, and African governance systems.
Mbah-Mbole stressed that while traditional authority today faces challenges of legitimacy, accountability, and relevance, its influence is far from diminished. He broke down the legal framework from the 1996 Constitution to the 2019 General Code of Regional and Local Authorities showing how traditional rulers are formally integrated into municipal, divisional, and regional decision-making. Their advisory and consultative roles, he explained, are indispensable, particularly in land tenure, custom-related legislation, and conflict resolution.
He emphasized the need for a clearer legal delimitation of powers, a mandatory dialogue forum between councils and chiefs, and continuous capacity building to enable rulers to meet today’s complex governance challenges.
“This workshop is more than training,” he remarked. “It is part of the capacity-building process necessary to equip traditional rulers for the realities of modern governance.”
Concluding the day’s first module, Dr. Forgwei Gideon, Divisional Delegate of Arts and Culture for Ngoketunjia, provided an anthropological perspective on decentralization, framing it as a return of power to its rightful custodians.
He reminded participants that Northwest traditional systems have always been inherently decentralized, with fons delegating authority to sub-chiefs, quarter heads, and notables.
Dr. Gideon highlighted decentralization’s primary objectives: improving efficiency, increasing citizen participation, reducing the burden on top administrators, and promoting a sense of belonging.
He praised traditional rulers as “gatekeepers of their communities,” asserting that no development project can succeed without passing through the palace.
He also addressed challenges including overlapping administrative structures, language barriers, transportation difficulties, and competition among chiefs for recognition, calling for clearer legal texts, improved logistical support (including vehicles for chiefs serving in regional assemblies), and translation of official documents into English to avoid exclusion.
By the end of Day One, participants left with a renewed sense of mission: to leverage their traditional authority not only as custodians of culture but also as active partners in Cameroon’s decentralization and development agenda.
The Bamenda Peace Declaration
One of the major outcomes of the workshop was the adoption of the Bamenda Peace Declaration, a solemn commitment by North West traditional rulers to:
Continue capacity-building workshops to enhance leadership effectiveness, safeguard customs and traditions as pillars of harmonious development, and ensure peace before, during, and after the upcoming elections.
The declaration also acknowledged the efforts of President Paul Biya in addressing the region’s socio-political crisis “with diligence, patience, and wisdom.”
From Dependency to Self-Reliance
Prof. Fru Angwafo III, President of the North West Regional Assembly, delivered a spirited intervention that challenged traditional rulers to shift from a dependency mindset to one of innovation and self-reliance.
“The new Cameroon is moving us from being beggars to being producers,” he said. “This region has some of the best mineral resources in the country bauxite, iron ore, gold, yet we are waiting for others to develop them for us. The decentralization process is designed to empower us to create, innovate, and take charge of our own development.”
Prof. Angwafo announced that more than 442 development projects have already been executed under the Regional Assembly’s five-year mandate, with over 200 of them initiated and implemented by local communities. He pledged to expand the training to divisional and sub-divisional levels to ensure that the benefits reach every village.
Cultural Identity and Rebranding
A recurring theme throughout the workshop was the urgent need to preserve the cultural identity of the region while making it relevant to modern times. Participants were encouraged to document oral traditions, protect historic sites, and maintain the dignity of traditional ceremonies.
“The rebranding of our region must begin with our core values,” Angwafo noted. “We must replace language that diminishes us, our languages are not dialects; we are not tribes. This shift in self-perception is key to restoring pride and unity.”
Commitment to Action
Closing the workshop, Governor Lele Lafrique reiterated the government’s expectation that traditional rulers become “true ambassadors of peace” and catalysts for development. He commended their decision to perform traditional rites in support of pacification and called for closer collaboration with security forces, local councils, and the administration.
Fon Azehfor III of Nkwen, speaking on behalf of the participants, expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for decentralization reforms and pledged to apply the lessons learned to strengthen governance at the grassroots.
“This workshop has provided a platform for reflection and collaboration,” Fon Azehfor said. “We are leaving here with renewed energy to promote inclusive decision-making, cultural preservation, and effective community leadership.”
Looking Ahead
The Regional Assembly has committed to rolling out similar capacity-building sessions across all divisions of the region. Organizers believe the training, combined with renewed cooperation between the state and traditional authorities, will accelerate the region’s path toward peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development.
As the participants dispersed from the Assembly Hall, one message rang clear: the North West region is ready to transform its challenges into opportunities with traditional rulers at the forefront of this new era of local governance and cultural renaissance.
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